No doubt most of you have already read what Tony Xia had to say in his presser and it sounds good doesn’t it?
He’s promised serious investment and even states that his aim is to be in the Champions League in five years and he actually aims to win it in ten years.
This is the stuff of dreams and while I’d personally be looking to keep my eye more on nearer targets, such as getting out of the very difficult league we’re actually in at the moment, there’s no doubt it’s music to any Villa fan’s ears.
If the half a billion quid really is Xia’s personal money, there can’t be much doubt that he’s the go-getter type, so you never know, he might actually achieve it, but what pleased me more I think was the fact that he talks about that ten years. It at least seems like the commitment is there for now anyway.
It’s all good stuff.
Next we have news that Bournemouth have accepted a £3 million bid for their captain and defender Tommy Elphick and the deal could be wrapped up by the nd of the week.
This appears to me to be a solid sort of signing, as although I can’t say I know anything about him, it seems that he was very much a mainstay of the Bournemouth side. He knows the script when it comes to getting out of the Championship and most importantly is a good captain who leads by example.
This is an excellent piece of work on Di Matteo’s part, as this position is probably going to prove the most important of any signing, a 20 goal a season striker apart perhaps.
His job will involve getting any despondent players “up” for it and hopefully slapping any surly types down, as we have to face it that we probably won’t get all the rubbish out in one go.
Which all makes me wonder why he’d be willing to drop down a division, to be honest.
A quick wiki search indicates that he signed for Bournemouth in August 2012. So doesn’t that mean he’s probably due to be out of contract and we should be able to get him on a free transfer?
Perhaps I’ve missed something.
I’ve read an article where Leeds are trying to muscle in on the move, but you’d have to suspect that they won’t be able to match the money we could offer him.
I just hope he doesn’t turn out to be another one who’s just coming for a final payday, like a certain few we’ve seen lately.
That’s cynical, I know, but it’s what the Villa have turned me into lately and I would hope that RDM has done some very good research on the player and knows 100% what he’s getting.
And then there’s Riley.
The Evening Mail have run a story where Xia comments about our stat-man and he certainly doesn’t seem to beat about the bush;
When asked what Riley’s future holds, Xia replied: “Honestly, everyone should agree with me, that he didn’t do too well.
So people should understand what he has to do, what responsibility he has to take.
But everybody should take full responsibility for what happened no matter what the situation.”
Well, I know what I think he should do and that is resign.
But I’m not convinced that’s what Xia means, although the article suggests that he’ll be relieved of his duties.
You’d expect that Xia has already had a chat with Riley, where perhaps he’s asked him to resign and Riley has refused in the hope that he’ll get paid off?
The “honestly” opening part of Xia’s comment is the part that confuses me. It’s almost as though he’s trying to convince us.
Perhaps it’s something to do with the language translation thing.
Whatever, while I can understand that some of the players he chose might actually have been amongst the better performers last season, the fact is that he apparently had the biggest say in signing the majority of new players in a side that finally relegated us.
I for one won’t be sorry to see him go.
I still have my hit list of players I want to see the back of, and I won’t be paying a penny to watch Villa until we field a team without them.
It is too early to speculate about the new signings while the Euros are still on. I expect the tournament to throw up some new ‘desirables’ for the Euro elite clubs, and that will start a whole round of musical chairs. We might find some Prem standard players looking for a new English club with some money, even a decent goalie. Same applies to coaches and scouts.
I still think the article in the Telegraph months ago, not refuted, suggesting Riley was guilty of misconduct – possibly even fraud – concerning overseas scouts not being in place to do their work for him is a pointer to the fact that Villa may try to fire him without compensation if he does not resign.
Feels a little bit like the phoney war at the moment. Absolutely nothing’s happening but you know something big is going to happen soon.
Oh well at least I can console myself in the fact that, even though we’ve been relegated, IMHO the outlook is the most hopeful we’ve had since MON went.
I have hopes of getting Elphick as I can’t see him going to Leeds who remind me of pre-Xia Villa only probably worse.
Can’t wait until the window opens
UTV
Can’t believe Wyness asked Fergue to recommend Manager gave we learned nothing. Fortunately we didn’t go for Moyes but this guy already sounds as bad as Fox and co
I’m sure the doc picked the manager so I’d read nothing into that wherever you obtained it from.
Quit with all the negativity. To put a positive slant on it , maybe he asked for Fergies recommendation as to make sure we didn’t appoint his choice and avoid the curse of old big red nose ! Lol !
Talk about gullible… Wyness worked with Moyes for years, we all knew Fergie would recommend him, so why would Wyness actually ask him? Come on Oohah, you can do better than that to be negative for no reason at all.
Elphick reportedly ending his honeymoon early to have a medical and signing early on this coming week.
If true then he’s already shown more commitment than the dross did the whole of last season.
Why? Is his Mrs crap in bed? 🙂
Good god I hope it’s not true that we want Pantilimon.
Well he should have the crossbar covered at 6’8″.
He’s so bad he still couldn’t cover the crossbar.
It is a serious worry that we even considered Pantilimon. Now that Slovakia keeper showed exceptional judgement against England, I bet we could offer him more than he is getting, so time for our new scouts to get moving and a get a decent replacement for the Muppet.
Don’t worry Andrew, he’s not coming , wage war going on and we won’t pay for an over paid useles goalkeeper. Them days have gone.
BBC reporting that Elphick has now signed for us
I think he’ll be a good acquisition if he stays fit.Utv
That’s the big question IF
CONFIRMED: Tommy Elphick is the first signing of the new era at Aston Villa
may not be the stella signing most fans crave. but he is exactly what villa need. leader of the team & strong defender, lescott take note (your not required) bye have fun with ur model and ur car
Good solid signing. Reminds me of Shaun Teale….CLASS PLAYER!
Welcome to AVFC Tommy.
Welcome to Aston Villa Football Club Tommy. No nothing about this player must be OK when Bournemouth wanted to keep him. The first of many we hope.
Why would he drop down a division though. Too injury prone for bournemouty
142 appearances in 4 years at Bournemouth. He is very injury prone ! Lol ! Glass is always half empty Ooh Ahh. Come on get some positivity flowing !
I can’t be positive it’s too painful 😄😄
I really like that the first player we sign is a potential first team captain and no-nonsense defender. It’s what we’ve needed for quite some time now.
Welcome to VP Tommy!!!
Those Beats will be in the bin. Skipper Elphick banned all Cherries players wearing headphones between the bus and the changing room.